Control device



March 3, 1953 LEONARD'ET AL 2,630,092

co'iq'rRoL. DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1945 4'Sheets-Sheet l IIIIIIIII' 1,4:

WITNESSES:

wax/4% INVENTORS John ,4. Gw'oas/fi.

ATTORNEY March 1953 M. e.- LEONARD ETAL 2,630,092

CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 E l (a K a k E T L. 1

a: & k

v I N g l 8| m x v 1%:

wnuzssss; INVENTORS M4 Merr/Y/ Q Zea/24rd and Jab/ fill/dosh.

ATTORNEY Mgrch 1953 M. G. LEONARD ETAL 2,630,092

' CONTROL DEVICE Filed Nov. 8, 1945 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 ATTORNEY M. G. LEONARD ET AL March 3, 1953 CONTROL DEVICE 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 8, 1945 INVENTORS Ale/WW 6 Z eo/mrd 0/20 WITNESSES:

Jo/m ,4. 60/08:.

BY aw 66'.

ATTORNEY some serious drawbacks.

Patented Mar. 3, 1953 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONTROL DEVICE Application November 8, 1945, Serial No. 627,498

13 Claims.

Our invention relates to torpedoes and more particularly to torpedo elements utilized for proving the operating elements of a torpedo.

In making exercise runs of torpedoes and par tioularly electrically propelled torpedoes it has been conventional practice to use a forward section, or exercise head, which is similar in shape and size to a warhead and arranged so that it can be loaded with a relatively high specific gravity ballast liquid so that the exercise head when filled with the ballast liquid has an overall specific gravity substantially equal to the overall specific gravity of the warhead when charged with the torpex or other explosive charge. Some attempt is thus made by the kind of ballast liquid chosen and the disposition of some of the operating elements of the exercise head that the exercise shot will as near as possible simulate the running conditions to be expected for the War shot, but will at the same time permit the expelling of the ballast liquid at the end of the exercise run so that the torpedo becomes buoyant and floats instead of sinking.

As a matter of convenience in the case of elec trically propelled torpedoes, both the exercise head and battery compartment are used for range tests and as a matter of economy are used in this way repeatedly. The main purpose of the repeated range tests, or exercise runs, is to prove-establish the unfailing function-the operation of the afterbody and tailcone and particularly the equipment these elements of the torpedo contain. The exercise head and battery compartment serve only to give the entire body the proper size, shape, and weight necessary to simulate war shot conditions, whereas the battery serves only to provide the necessary power for the propulsion motor and the other electrically operated elements.

The practice briefly outlined hereinbefore has Putting all the ballast liquid at the forward end of the two sections, exercise head and battery compartment, is very undesirable particularly in the case of electrically propelled torpedoes, because when the ballast liquid is expelled at the end of an exercise run th torpedo turns nose upward and the battery is thus standing on end instead of in its normal and desirable horizontal position. This introduces serious problems of retaining the electrolyte without spillage and at the same time provision has to be made to either condense, absorb in a suitable absorbent, or expel the gases produced in the cell. Furthermore, the relatively loose sediment which always collects at the bottom of the battery cells is displaced from the position Where it can do no harm, to the sides or top where the sediment may cause trouble by short-circuiting the plates. Still further, since the ballast liquid is all near the front in a relatively small compartment a high specific gravity liquid has to be chosen. Since the ballast liquid is lost at the end of each range run the cost of each range run is increased.

One broad object of our invention is the elimination of all the disadvantages to which reference has been made.

A more specific object of our invention is to so arrange the disposition of the ballast liquid that it would not only provide theproper trim to simulate war shot conditions, but would also provide the proper trim after the ballast liquid is expelled so that the torpedo will float in a substantially level position and the battery remain horizontal.

Another object of our invention is to so devise the battery compartment and exercise head that sea water can be used as a ballast liquid for a torpedo.

Another and somewhat more specific object of our invention is to so expel the ballast liquid from a torpedo at the end of a range run that the torpedo rises to the surface with the nose slightly higher than the afterbody and tailcone.

The objects specifically stated are illustrative objects and not in any sense an exhaustive statement of all the objects of our invention. Other objects and advantages of our invention will become more apparent from a study of the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of our novel exercise head;

Figs. 2a and 2b show a longitudinal section of our novel forward portion of the torpedo, namely the portion disposed between the afterbody and the exercise head;

Fig. 3 is a transverse sectional view on section line IIIIII of Fig. 2a looking in the direction indicated by the arrow at each end of the section line; and

Fig. 4 is a somewhat schematic view in longitudinal section illustrating our combined construction of forward section and exercise head.

The various objects of our invention are obtained by the novel construction we devised and which provides for and makes possible a suitable re-location of the battery in the torpedo shell and provides for a corresponding change in the location of the ballast liquid so as to obtain the required conditions both before and after the ballast is expelled.

In order to obtain the novel results it will be noted that the exercise head, shown in Fig. 1, now includes a portion of the propulsion battery,

i. e., includes a battery compartment. In this battery compartment 1 reference numerals 2 and 3 represent reinforcing ribs welded to the inner surfacerofttheishell 4. The ribs..2 are annular in shape-whereas the: ribs 3 have'ag gen'erally U- shape. These ribs 3 are substantially of the same shape as the ribs 3 shown in Fig. 3. The ribs .3

are at their outer edges welded to the inner surface of the shell 4 and at their inner e'dgeseare Welded to the side walls 5.. and bottom 5 of the battery compartment. The ribs*'3are provided with suitable notches l andi.ho1esl 8so:that the sea water can flow freely frombneregionto'another region between the ribs 3. No' ballast water will thus become trapped between .thetribsrinithe shell 4 when the ballast water is to be.expelled.

The rib 9 is not provided with the notches Tnor therholes 8. Furthermore, this ribv is carefully l hermetically welded to the inner surface of ithe 1' shell 'fan'd right+hand ends of the 'side walls 3 5 and :the: right-hand end of the bottom 6. This ihermetici seal of rib. 9 "together with the liquid i'ti'ghtend' wall Hi and thehermetic seals at I I, I2, l3,**andld effectively seal the "battery compartment from the ballast *water normally 'in'the "spaces-|5, l'6,' |1, l3- and I9.

lf'he lower aft-end of the exercise head or shell 4 is provided with the ballast l-iquid"discharge verve 2'0. -A fiare producing unit is disposed at ftl'ie upper region "of the forward "ie'ndof the "exercise head imthe-fcontainer z l. A suitabie vaive 22" is"disposed**in" the upper forwar'd' regio'n ofithe battery compartment. I-nhormalbp'eration just "characters to designate-these ribs.

-Rib -9' "corresponds in structure and "function -'to rib fi in the -exercise"head,- except that rib 'fi is at the forward end'f thebattery compartment 1'. The seals H, 1 F2, I3,-' an'd I '4 are the same. Theside walls 5 and bottom 6 are-thepsame in construction as "thoseshoWnT'inFig. 1. 1 End wall I corresponds .to endwall Hi both in: structure ian'd function, fexcept thatthis :endwall ii is at *the lift end -of ithat' partfof .the' forward section "23'shown'inFigI2a.

- With the-construction shownfin"Fi'g.2a"it'is apparent that "the ballast water fills the regions "2'4"arid theregion "25 to the lighter end wall i ii "Fig, '2b is ashowing"ofthe aft'end of the forward section and in efiect is but a continuation "toward the'ri'ght'oftheshowing in "Fig. 2a. 'The structure "of the showing in Fig; 2b however,

radically'diiierent.

The a'it'en'dof the forwardsection'is provided fatits lower aft end with a ballast liquid dis- "charge valve J and, at'the mid-region in aberrntio case 2"l,houses aCOzfiask 28. The flask *is'providedwith sin-electrically"operable valve 2%. l'Th'e valve "29 is in electrical connection with the "battery and the battery leads *and control leads are carried to the afterbody. and'tailcone through "suitable sealed-"cable'fifl.

{Aside from the'equip'ment just mentioned the aftregion of the forward section is-substantialiy empty and is thus suitable for storing a considerable amount of ballast water. This will be especially apparent from the schematic showin in Fig. 4. v

'In operation; when theitorpedo is fired for its range run, the "propulsion equipment is set in operation and also a suitable timer T is set in operation. At or near the end of the exercise zrun-but preferably while the torpedo is still in motion the timer T establishes a circuit from the battery terminal- 3 I through suitable switching means in the afterbody, the segment of the .timer and theactuating coil 32 for the valve 22.

The valve '22 opens and the air pressure in thez-ba'ttery :coinpartments i and l begins to expel the ballast liquid from the exercise head. "About ten seconds later the segment 33 moves to the position to energize the actuating armature v or squib, use'di lin valve. 2'9. 'O-peration of valve 29 ficonnects .the fiask to :the ballast watercontaining space-.25;t0:expe1athe ballastwaterlfrom "thisspace through valve26.

iISince the' expulsion of the ballast water from theiexercisehead beginssome ten seconds earlier -than the: expulsion of the ballast water from-the fforwardsectionZt it is ap-parent that the torpedo 1 head will rise to' the-surface somewhat ahead of the: main portion of the-torpedo. Whentallthe ballast water has been expelled-the torpedo floats with the longitudinal axissubstantiallyhorizontal and'with the discharge valves 2lland--2-6-at the bottom.

From the foregoing description it will be apparent that we have. provided a novel type of torpedo :structure .in which the :exercise head .and battery 1 compartmentof former structures are treated asasingle unit. -Thebattery,-being -mounte'd much farther forward in this unitv and :thus providing considerable space aft or .the battery :for ballast water, thus prevents the torpedo from taking ca 'verticalpOsition in-the see. when the torpedois made buoyant.

The fact thatthe torpedo riseswith the-nose :slightly higher-than the'aft'endthereof facilita'tes theflow of the-watertoward the regions occupied by-the"discha;rge valves.

"Further, with our novel-construction there is "no-particular difiiculty in simulating war shot conditions without :the use :of 'high specific rgravity' ballast liquid.

withiouroonstruction the uselofi'alow-density 250111131011, sea water, :or :even :fresh *water as a 'ballast liquid zbecomes practicable, -with ia wcorresponding reduction in 'costia'nd i labor .required forisetting up aunit for test.

a relatively great distance toward the'front into the: aft end of the exercise head and extending in the aft direction into the forward portion of the forward section, secured'to the aftend "of the'exercise head, a hermetic sealing rib at the'aft end of the exercise head hermetically "engaging the outside surface of the battery compartment and the inner "surface of the exercise "head to thus 'form a sealed ofi ballast liquid cavity at the aft end, a forward section of a torpedo comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the forward end, means for hermetically connecting the aft V end of the exercise head to the forward end of the forward section so that the reentrant cavities are in alignment, said aligned reentrant cavities forming a single battery compartment for the torpedo and said chambers in the exercise head and forward section, respectively, forming ballast liquid containing chambers, and ballast liquid discharging valve means for each of said chambers and means for initiating the expulsion of the ballast liquid from the chamber in the exercise head a predetermined time interval ahead of the initiation of the explusion from the forward section.

3. In a torpedo for making range tests, in combination, an exercise head comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the aft end, a forward section of a torpedo comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the forward end, means for hermetically connecting the aft end of' the exercise head to the forward end of the forward section so that the reentrant cavities battery compartment containing a gas under a given pressure, a ballast liquid control valve for opening the battery compartment to the chamber in the exercise head, and means for operating said valve.

4. In a torpedo for making range tests, in combination, an exercise head comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the aft end, a forward section of a torpedo comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the forward end, means for hermetically connecting the aft end of the exercise head to the forward end of the forward section so that the reentrant cavities are in alignment, said aligned reentrant cavities forming a single battery compartment for the torpedo and said chambers in the exercise head and forward section, respectively, forming ballast liquid containing chambers, a discharge valve for the chamber in the exercise head, said battery compartment containing a gas under a given pressure, a ballast liquid control valve for opening the battery compartment to the chamber in the exercise head, means for operating said valve, a flask containing gas under relatively high pressure in the forward section, a second ballast liquid control valve for connecting the flask to the chamber in the forward section to thus admit the gas in the flask to this cham her, a discharge valve for discharging the ballast liquid from the last-mentioned chamber.

5. In a torpedo for making range tests, in com- 8 bination, an exercise head comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the aft end, a forward section of a torpedo comprising a hermetically closed chamber having a reentrant cavity at the forward end, means for hermetically conecting the aft end of the exercise head to the forward end of the forward section so that the reentrant cavities are in alignment, said aligned reentrant cavities forming a single battery compartment for the torpedo and said chambers in the exercise head and forward section, respectively, forming ballast liquid containing chambers, a discharge valve for the chamber in the exercise head, said battery compartment containing a gas under a given pressure, a ballast liquid control valve for opening the battery compartment to the chamber in the exercise head, means for operating said valve, a flask containing gas under relatively high pressure in the forward section, a second ballast liquid control valve for connecting the flask to the chamber in the forward section to thus admit the gas in this flask to the chamber, a discharge valve for discharging the ballast liquid from the chamber in the forward section.

6. Certain elements of a torpedo for use with the exercise runs of otherwise conventional torpedoes, in combination, an exercise head conventional in outer contour but having a reentrant cavity at the aft end of the torpedo hermetically sealing the exercise head to provide a sealed ballast liquid containing chamber in the exercise head, means for hermetically connecting the portions aft of the exercise head to the exercise head to thus seal the open end of the reentrant cavity to provide a sealed battery compartment, a valve for opening the battery compartment to the ballast liquid containing chamber, and a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the chamber in the exercise head, said battery compartment for normal range runs, or exercise runs, being provided with a gas under a pressure just sufficient to expel the ballast liquid from the chamber in the exercise head through the discharge valve upon opening of the valve be ween the battery compartment and the ballast liquid containing chamber.

'7. Certain elements of a torpedo for use with the exercise runs of otherwise conventional torpedoes, in combination, an exercise head conventional in outer contour but having a reentrant cavity at the aft end of the torpedo hermetically sealing the exercise head to provide a sealed ballast liquid containing chamber in the exercise head, means for hermetically connecting the portions aft of the exercise head to the exercise head to thus seal the open end of the reentrant cavity to provide a sealed battery compartment, a valve for opening the battery compartment to the ballast liquid containing chamber, a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the chamber in the exercise head, said battery compartment for normal range runs, or exercise runs, being provided with a gas under a pressure just sufficient to expel the ballast liquid from the chamber in the exercise head through the discharge valve upon opening of the valve between the battery compartment and the ballast liquid containing chamber and a plurality of perforated reenforcing ribs disposed between the inner surface of the exercise head and the outer sur face of the reentrant cavity.

8. Certain elements of a torpedo for use with the exercise or range runs of otherwise conventional torpedoes, in combination, an exercise aee oez dreamsealed at the aft end bya reentrant-cavity,

" a forward -section sealed at the forward end by n reentrant cavity, means for hermetically con- -=necting the aft end ofth'e exercise head tothe front end of theforw'ard section, said'reentrant cavity in the forward section having anappreciabled'esser 'a'xi'al length thanth'e'length'of the forwardsection tothusprovide-a relatively large ball'ast liquid containingchamber-at the aft end bf the forward section, said aligned reentrant cavities forming a-closed single battery compartineiitfa "dischargevalveat the lower aft end nf the exercise-head, a discharge valve at the lower aft end f the'forward section, and means --f'or= ex-pelling the ballast liquid in the exercise A hea'd 'and' forward section in timed sequence.

1 eertainelem'ents of a 'torpedo for use with vthe exe'rcise or 'range "runs-of otherwise I conventional torped'oes. :in combination, *an exercise e'ad 'sealed at the-aftend'by a reentrant cavity,

" a -for'ward section sealed at the forward end by a reent'rant cavity, *means for hermetically "connectingthe-eitend of the exercise-headto the'fro'nt end of the forward section, perforated 'reenforcing ribs rigidly securedbetweenthe inner -s'urface of the" exercise head and the outer 'surface'of-tire reentrant cavityin'the exercise head, perforated r'eenforcing ribs rigidly secured between' the'innersurface-of the forward section of "the outer surface of the reentrant cavity in *the iforw-ard section, said reentrant cavity in the forward section having anappreciable lesser -iaxial length-than-the length ofthe forward sec- "tion to thus provide a relatively large ballast liquid containingchamber at-the aft end of the "axial length than'the length of the f0rwar'd'section to "thus provide a relatively large ballast liquid containing chamber at the an end 'ofthe fforward section, said aligned reentrant cavities "forming'a closed'single battery compartment, a *discharge valvefat' the lower alf-t'end'of the'exerc1'se"head,a discharge valveat the lower-aft end "oftheforward section,a buoyancy control valve connecting when open the battery compartment to "the b-allast' liquid containing "chamber in the exercise head, saidbatter'y compartment during "normal range runs a, being filled with gas under p 're'ssureso that'openin'g of the buoyancy control I valve 'will' cause the expulsion of the ballast liquid in the e'xercise'headthro'ugh the discharge valve =intlie lower attend of the exercise headgasource of gas under pressure; a-second buoyancy control valve for connecting the source ofgas under pressure to the ballast containing chamber in the forward section to thus expel the'ballastliquid therein through the disch'arge valve-at the: lower iaftiend of the forwardsection.

1-1."-Certainelementsofa torpedo for use with ithe exercise orrang'e runs-30f otherwise conventional torpedoes, --in combination, an exercise i head'sealed at the aft end by a reentrant cavity,

a'forward section sealed at the forward end by a reentrant cavity-means for hermetically connecting the aft end of-the exercise head to the front end ofthe forward section, perforatedreenforcing ribs rigidly secured between the inner surface of the exercise head and the outer surfaceof the-reentrant cavity-in the exercise head, perforated reenfcrcing -ribs rigidly secured between the inner surface of the forward section of the outer surface of "the reentrant cavity in the forward secticn,-said reentrant cavity'in'the forwardsection,--said-reentrant cavity in the forward section-having an appreciable lesser axial length than the length of the forward-section to thusprovide a relativelyllarge ballast liquid containin chamber=at the aft end of the forward section, said aligned reentrant cavities "forming -a=closed-single battery compartment, a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the "exercise head, adischarge valve'at theloweraft end of thefor- 'wardsectioma buoyancycontrol valve connecting when openthe battery compartment to theballast liquid containing chamber :in theexercise head, said battery compartment during normal range runs being-filled with gas under pressure'so that opening of the buoyancy control valve will cause the-expulsion of theballast liquid in the exercise head through the discharge valve in the-lower attend of the exercise head,'a source of gas under pressure, a second buoyancy control valve for connecting the source of gasundenpressure to the ballast contaning chamber in the forward section to thus expel the ballast liquid'therein through the-discharge valve at theloweraft end of the forward section.

12. Certain elements of a torpedo for use with the exercise or range-runs of otherwise conventional torpedoes, in combination, an exercise head sealed at the aft end by a reentrant cavity, a 'forward section sealed-at the forward end by-a reentrant cavity, means for hermetically connect ng the aft end of the exercisehead to the'front end of the forward section, said'reentrant cavity in the forward section having an appreciable'less'er axial length than-thelength of the forward section to thus provide a relatively large ballast liquid containing chamber at-the aft end of the forward section, sad aligned reentrant'cavities forming a closed single battery compartment, a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the exercise head, a discharge valve at the loweraft end of the forward section a buoyancy controlyalve connecting when open the battery compartment to'the ballast liquid containing chamber in the exercise-head, said battery compartment during normal range runs being filled with gas under pressureso that opening of the buoyancy control valve willcause the expulsion of the ballast liquid in the exercise head through the discharge-valve in the lower aft end of the exercise head, a source of gas-underpressure, a second buoyancy control valve for-connectingthe-source of gasunderpressureto the ballast containing chamber in the forward section to thus expel the -ballast f liquid therein through the discharge valveatthe lower aft endof the forward-section, and means operable ator near the "end of-the exercise run for opening thefirst buoyancy control valve and the second buoyancy controlledvalve intimed-se- -q-uence in the-order recited.

'13. Certain elements of a torpedo foruse with the exercise or rangerunsof otherwise conventional torpedoes,incombination, anexercise head sealed at the aft end by a reentrant cavity, a forward section sealed at the forward end by a reentrant cavity, means for hermetically connecting the aft end of the exercise head to the front end of the forward section, perforated reenforcing ribs rigidly secured between the inner surface of the exercise head and the outer surface of the reentrant cavity in the exercise head, perforated reenforcing ribs rigidly secured between the inner surface of the forward section of the outer surface of the reentrant cavity in the forward section, said reentrant cavity in the forward section having an appreciable lesser axial length than the length of the forward section to thus provide a relatively large ballast liquid containing chamber at the aft end of the forward section, said aligned reentrant cavities forming a closed single battery compartment, a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the exercise head, a discharge valve at the lower aft end of the forward section, a buoyancy control valve connecting when open the battery compartment to the ballast liquid containing chamber in the exercise head, said battery compartment durin normal range runs being filled with gas under pressure so that opening of the buoyancy control valve will cause the expulsion of the ballast liquid in the exercise head through the discharge valve in the lower aft end of the exercise head, a source of gas under pressure, a second buoyancy control valve for connecting the source of gas under pressure to the ballast containing chamber in the forward section to thus expel the ballast liquid therein through the discharge valve at the lower aft end of the forward section, and means operable at or near the end of the exercise run for opening the first buoyancy control valve and the second buoyancy controlled valve in timed sequence in the order recited.

MERRILL G. LEONARD.

JOHN A. GUIDOSH.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Sacco Sept. 29, 1931 Number 

